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Robbie Rogart Jost is a counsel in the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation, Product Risk Management, and Litigation groups in Crowell & Moring's Washington, D.C. office. Robbie represents clients across numerous industries in a diverse array of commercial, class action, multi-district, health care, and products liability litigations in state and federal courts. Robbie also provides counseling regarding product liability, risk management, and consumer product regulatory compliance, with a focus on health care and medical devices.

PFAS compliance in cosmetics has become a critical and growing legal risk for beauty and personal care companies, driven by an expanding patchwork of state bans across 14+ jurisdictions and increasingly sophisticated consumer class action litigation that companies must address proactively rather than reactively. Click here to continue reading the full version of this alert.

In a Law360 article published today, “How Food, Beverage Claims May Preview Cosmetic Litigation,” Crowell attorneys argue that class action litigation trends from the food and beverage industry — including lawsuits over “natural” labeling claims, deceptive packaging (slack-fill), and greenwashing — are directly foreshadowing, and providing a strategic roadmap for, the wave of similar litigation

The Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA) marked the most significant expansion of FDA’s authority over cosmetics in 80 years — and the agency is putting that authority to work. From the launch of a new adverse event reporting tool to forthcoming rules on fragrance allergens and good manufacturing practices (GMP), FDA is

Despite other sweeping changes to the federal government under the Trump administration, the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA), passed under former President Biden, remains good law. Below, we report on recent trends in FDA’s implementation and enforcement of MoCRA in the early months of Trump’s presidency.

FDA is continuing to monitor the cosmetic industry’s compliance with MoCRA. On March 13, 2025, FDA released data summarizing the number of active facility registrations and product listings submitted pursuant to MoCRA’s requirements.

Continue Reading MoCRA Under the Trump Era: A Look at FDA’s Monitoring and Enforcement Two Months In

On October 25, 2024, FDA issued final guidance to the tattoo industry on the preparation, packing and holding of tattoo inks aimed at preventing the risk of microbial contamination. FDA is getting involved because tattoo ink is considered a cosmetic product regulated by the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA).

Continue Reading The Ink is Dry: FDA Issues Final Guidance for Tattoo Industry

On July 29, 2024, FDA announced that it added two new features to Cosmetics Direct, the electronic submission portal  used for the facility registration and product listing requirements now in effect under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA). The portal now allows responsible persons to “discontinue” and “relist” cosmetic products.

Continue Reading Cosmetics Direct Gets Two Portal “Fillers” – Discontinuation & Relisting Features Added

A warning letter posted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on June 18, 2024 offers a first glimpse into how FDA may enforce its new regulatory scheme for products that fall within the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022 (MoCRA)’s purview. While MoCRA was enacted in December 2022 and many of its provisions became enforceable on December 29, 2023, until now, many have wondered how FDA will exercise its new enforcement powers.

Continue Reading FDA Unveils Its “First Look” Into How It Will Enforce MoCRA

Talc is a mineral ingredient used in many cosmetic and personal care products, including baby powder, root touch-up products, and blush. Because both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that may be found in close proximity in underground deposits, there is risk for contamination of asbestos in talc-based products.

Continue Reading Talc About Toxic-Free Cosmetics

As we have previously discussed, in recent years, consumers have increasingly demanded “cleaner” beauty products and more transparency in product labeling. In addition to the FDA’s increased authority to regulate cosmetics under MoCRA, a number of states have now taken steps to regulate ingredients in cosmetics by limiting, and in some instances even banning, the use of certain ingredients that may be potentially harmful or toxic.

Continue Reading Is it Allowed? Companies Face New Challenges with an Ever-Evolving List of “Off Limits” Ingredients in Cosmetic Products

A recent article published by MedTech, “Could Bassinet Clearance Expand FDA Authority? Law Firm Expresses Concern,” quotes a Crowell client alert and Crowell attorney, Robbie Jost, on this development. According to the client alert, “To the extent the FDA considers the SNOO a medical device based on its intended impact on infant sleep position, many